I have been thinking since the last post of all the additional ways we keep the kids engaged on road trips. Here are a few more ideas:
- Collect as You Go – Bring an extra backpack to let children collect ticket stubs, receipts, brochures, maps and souvenirs as you go. This can be a treasure trove of supplies for scrapbooking or other art projects after the trip.
- Pick up Brochures – I know I mentioned brochures, but they deserve their own bullet point. This is especially true if you stop at a hotel lobby or rest stop that has a wall of brochures. Encourage your children to take a copy of all that look appealing. These can provide a few hours of quiet reading and conversation. They might also spark a detour to a local museum or bakery (Mr. Sticky’s in Williamsport PA on our last trip – amazing!).
- Have a Navigator – I know most cars have an electronic navigator, but there are good life skills in teaching your older child to read and follow a map and calculate mileage, distances and times for travel.
- Bring a Child-Friendly Digital Camera – A camera or video camera that you allow your children to use can do wonders for long car trips. Let them take 100s of pictures then print a few of their favorites to document. We have a few creative videos my then bored nine-year-old took from the back seat of the mini-van that are priceless.
Parenting by Dr. Rene 